While his overall stat line (30 carries for 140 yards) looks impressive, running back Jamaal Charles (+0.7) wore down in a big way in the second half as the Ravens did a much better job of containing the Chiefs rushing attack. As a team they ran for 179 yards on 34 carries in the first half but managed just 35 yards on 16 carries in the second half working out at a drop of 3.2 yards per carry from one half to the next. Usually a team runs the ball to that level to wear down an opponent but it was the Chiefs who tired this time. That left a Chiefs offense that had no faith in its quarterback and what looked like no Plan B in the second half against a Ravens team that wasn’t at its best on this occasion.

Complete Pass Rush

Chiefs fans have waited for the defense to get production from both pass rushers in the one game and that wait was rewarded by both Tamba Hali (+3.3) and Justin Houston (+5.6) as the duo combined for 13 total pressures. Houston, our most productive pass rusher amongst 3-4 outside linebackers going into the game outperformed his teammate again on Sunday, generating two sacks and six hurries on his way to a PRP Rating of 28.9. Hali matched him in sacks and added another three hurries of his own. His second sack came in controversial fashion on 2nd-and-10 with 3:42 remaining in the game. Blowing by Osemele on the outside he was able to get his hands on Flacco causing the official to blow the play dead seconds before Flacco fumbled. It’s the right call if he believes the quarterback was in the grasp but it’s a call that could have turned the game nonetheless.

Matt Cassel

With an apparent concussion to starting quarterback Matt Cassel (-1.1), it looks like Chiefs fans will get their wish to see Brady Quinn(+0.9 ) attempt to drive the offense towards the end zone. But while Chiefs fans have been quick to look to Quinn as their saviour (or at least a better option) it’s worth pointing out that Cassel wasn’t necessarily as awful as his stat line shows. While his fumble at the goal line on with 11:54 left in the 3rd quarter was inexcusable (likewise his delay of game penalty at the end of the first half) neither interception was the result of a poor throw or decision. The first came from a pass deflection from cornerback Cary Williams while the second was the result of a dropped pass from Dwayne Bowe. We’re not saying he was good by any stretch, but is a switch to Brady Quinn really going to fix the problem? Time will tell.

Game Notes

- Coming into the game completing 39% of his passes beyond 20 yards, both of Flacco’s deep passes fell incomplete.

- Sticking with the Ravens passing game, the team combined to drop four passes on Sunday – twice as many in this game that they had in their four prior games.

- Jamaal Charles’ yards per carry dropped from 6.3 in the first half to 1.5 in the second half.

Game Ball
While he wasn’t flawless, Paul Kruger stepped his play up in a big way and was played a big role in the team stopping a Chiefs running game that gashed them in the first half.

Yesterday I heard people arguing that neither interception was Cassel's fault.
I've also heard that the interceptions WERE Bowe's fault. I call bullshit on both counts.

The first interception was a great play made by the defender to get a hand in and tip the ball up.
Wasn't Cassel's fault. Wasn't Bowe's fault.

The second interception was a bad throw. The ball was thrown high and to the back shoulder. A back shoulder throw on a crossing route going the other way. Horrible ball placement. Bowe had to leave his feet. That was definitely on Cassel.

__________________It's like when I'm right I'm right, when I'm wrong I could been right, so I'm still right cause I coulda been wrong.

Yesterday I heard people arguing that neither interception was Cassel's fault.
I've also heard that the interceptions WERE Bowe's fault. I call bullshit on both counts.

The first interception was a great play made by the defender to get a hand in and tip the ball up.
Wasn't Cassel's fault. Wasn't Bowe's fault.

The second interception was a bad throw. The ball was thrown high and to the back shoulder. A back shoulder throw on a crossing route going the other way. Horrible ball placement. Bowe had to leave his feet. That was definitely on Cassel.

Yesterday I heard people arguing that neither interception was Cassel's fault.
I've also heard that the interceptions WERE Bowe's fault. I call bullshit on both counts.

The first interception was a great play made by the defender to get a hand in and tip the ball up.
Wasn't Cassel's fault. Wasn't Bowe's fault.

The second interception was a bad throw. The ball was thrown high and to the back shoulder. A back shoulder throw on a crossing route going the other way. Horrible ball placement. Bowe had to leave his feet. That was definitely on Cassel.

If I'm remembering right, Cassel was staring down Bowe on the first INT and drew a lot of defenders into Bowes direction. In result, the DB had more than enough flexibility to make that play.

Yesterday I heard people arguing that neither interception was Cassel's fault.
I've also heard that the interceptions WERE Bowe's fault. I call bullshit on both counts.

The first interception was a great play made by the defender to get a hand in and tip the ball up.
Wasn't Cassel's fault. Wasn't Bowe's fault.

The second interception was a bad throw. The ball was thrown high and to the back shoulder. A back shoulder throw on a crossing route going the other way. Horrible ball placement. Bowe had to leave his feet. That was definitely on Cassel.

Wrong. That was on Bowe. I hate Cassel as much as anyone, but Bowe should have made that catch. Not every pass from elite QBs are on target, and sometimes they throw high. Bowe wants to be paid like a top 5-10 receiver. A top 5-10 receiver makes that catch and so should he.

Wrong. That was on Bowe. I hate Cassel as much as anyone, but Bowe should have made that catch. Not every pass from elite QBs are on target, and sometimes they throw high. Bowe wants to be paid like a top 5-10 receiver. A top 5-10 receiver makes that catch and so should he.

It wasn't just thrown high. It was thrown high AND behind him.
Horrible placement. Not sure how Bowe's responsible for that.

__________________It's like when I'm right I'm right, when I'm wrong I could been right, so I'm still right cause I coulda been wrong.

It wasn't just thrown high. It was thrown high AND behind him.
Horrible placement. Not sure how Bowe's responsible for that.

This throw was not like the Moeaki INT against SD. With this throw, Bowe's hands were on it. The fact of the matter is this, Bowe wants to be paid like Fitz, he needs to play like it. Fitzgerald makes that catch as does Megatron, Andre Johnson etc..... Cassel is not a good QB and most INTs are his fault, but at some point the receivers need to be held accountable instead of blaming Cassel for every pass that is not perfect out of blind hatred for the man. This INT was on Bowe.

This throw was not like the Moeaki INT against SD. With this throw, Bowe's hands were on it. The fact of the matter is this, Bowe wants to be paid like Fitz, he needs to play like it. Fitzgerald makes that catch as does Megatron, Andre Johnson etc..... Cassel is not a good QB and most INTs are his fault, but at some point the receivers need to be held accountable instead of blaming Cassel for every pass that is not perfect out of blind hatred for the man. This INT was on Bowe.

How many times does Bowe have to MAKE catches like this before people get it?

Yesterday I heard people arguing that neither interception was Cassel's fault.
I've also heard that the interceptions WERE Bowe's fault. I call bullshit on both counts.

The first interception was a great play made by the defender to get a hand in and tip the ball up.
Wasn't Cassel's fault. Wasn't Bowe's fault.

The second interception was a bad throw. The ball was thrown high and to the back shoulder. A back shoulder throw on a crossing route going the other way. Horrible ball placement. Bowe had to leave his feet. That was definitely on Cassel.

Mic is spot on in his analysis, and didn't even mention that on one of the throws, a Chief receiver (Maneri, IIRC) was standing wide open with no one within 10 yards of him.

If that's not a bad decision, I'm not sure what is.

Let's be fair here.

Amy time Cassel decides to throw the ball it's a bad decision, so maybe they grade him on a curve. Yesterday he never made a decision as bad as throwing an int on a screen pass.Posted via Mobile Device

Amy time Cassel decides to throw the ball it's a bad decision, so maybe they grade him on a curve. Yesterday he never made a decision as bad as throwing an int on a screen pass.Posted via Mobile Device